Fruita Revisited

What seems like forever ago, four brave souls headed to Fruita to find the underlying reason we all ride bicycles. The story is short but the rides were long.

Myself with my beer and Shonny! She is a Carhart girl and a Luna Chick!

This was the new 43er bike being previewed.

Lakewood-Denver-Lakewood

The recap
Four riders set forth on the first ever L-D-L. We left the house packing PBR and a full Surly flask.

Edgewater Inn - Scooners of Coors Light and pizza! Hydrations and fortification.
Three Dogs Tavern in Highland Square - didn't make it there but stopped off at another pub (Meade St?) for a pint of Guiness.
Protos - Eleven Dollar pitchers of PBR, I believe that is some kind of crime.
Ironworks Brewery - Smoky! not smokin' with live music Lakewood style. A beer that bothered me like ragweed in the fall.

Twenty-five miles of pure fun. Look for a winter version coming soon.

Peace,
L-D-L mgmt

Snow arrived

The snow arrived earlier in the week which forced me to don the running shoes and slog through it. The running wasn't all that bad, but my body is just not ready to commit to a full schedule of running and that winter regiment. I do have to say this winter will be easier to muddle through this year with the prospect of a good spring cycling season ahead. The last few months I have found that commitment to a routine of cycling that has been lacking since moving to CO.

Only a month or so before the weekends will be filled with skiing and snowshoeing. First I must finish out my cycling season with some solid 'cross races.

Time for lunges in preparation for deep powdered tele turns......

Trouble in paradise

There are many perils in which one must face in everyday life. We as a society have built safeguards to protect us from ourselves and from others. We take calculated risks daily. I ride my bike and therefore understand the risks but also understand the rewards. I was able to take a long ride over the weekend to ponder my troubles. The ride started in a resort town high in the mountains, there are many who say that the rate in which towns grow is ruining the very reason for visiting. In this journey, I rode through one resort that having been infused with money over the past few years is expanding. I turned around in a very high dollar resort town thinking of the pioneers who years ago traversed the pass to find pristine land. As I looked at the growth and listen to the din of traffic shuttling people, I realized that my problem is only a minor one. When I got back to the mountain retreat, I grabbed a cup of coffee and came to the conclusion that I didn't need to leave home to beat the heat. I needed to go to a place that had a working coffee maker.

Credit , where credit is due

In my last post, I started in on the importance of connecting breath to workload. I referenced an article in Mountain Flyer Magazine, however Steve Ilg and his book entitled Wholistic Fitness deserve the credit for introducing me to this school of thought. I was riding this weekend and that came to mind. I really appreciate the Wholistic Fitness concept, well at least about 95% of it. Check it out with a google search. His books were what I enjoyed the most. They were straight forward and not over the top.

The weekend allotted for two good rides. Saturday morning was a great fixed gear ride. I was able to turn the pedals over for about two hours and enjoyed a ride along the front range. The highlight of the ride was through Red Rocks, the world famous concert venue. I have ridden through here many time and the scenery is truly spectacular. However, this Saturday morning I took a different exit down to Morrison. Absolutely beautiful. I am always amazed at how much more you can see and participate in, when riding your bike.

Sunday I got a chance to do one of my favorite rides, a trip to the top of Lookout Mtn. Always enjoyable and always a good work out. From pillar to post, I believe it close to 5 miles, and gains over 1,000 feet. Needless to say, for a thick thug like myself it is always a challenge. My best time so far this year is 32:40. By no means great. Although I have been marking my time as measurement for improvement, I do try not to focus on it. The ride is really very enjoyable with a lot to offer and not just a great climb. I think that the fastest time up is around 22 minutes. I could be wrong, but that is the number I did hear.

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Connecting to my breath

I am confident that most people have some appreciation of the importance of breathing especially as it pertains to cycling and working out. Breathing when cycling as become a focus of mine of late. From the article in Mountain Flyer, I have been trying to make a conscious effort towards connecting my breath with the workload that I am producing on my bike.

With that said, this morning on a trail ride I had two revelations. First, if I concentrate when breathing I can bring in about 10-15% more oxygen ( an estimation) into my lungs. During the climbing portion of the ride, when I am between 90-95% of my max heart rate, that extra oxygen really made huge difference both with in my ability to maintain overall power and my ability to recover. I know this may seem like obvious stuff and that most people may know and understand his important connection. However, this was a big step for me today for improving my efficiency in climbing hills on my bike.

So the connection has been drawn between concentrated breathing and improvement in efficiency. But as usual I continue to ponder, and as a result, I come to my second revelation. That posture on a bicycle can have a dramatic effect on your breathing. And that by improving my posture on my bike I was able to improve my breathing and therefore improve my efficiency on the bike. I found it truly amazing how much more freely the air was able to move through my lungs.

So today I found a couple of connections between breathing and cycling. Even though I may have found some ways of improving efficiency, simply connecting my breath to cycling and participating in the present moment proved the most rewarding.

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Trail Energy

Do you ever have one of those rides where it seems like people are very nice and good "hello" somehow, seems to provide you with a little extra energy? Or maybe it happens during a race. You are struggling and someone offers some kind words of encouragement and all of a sudden you are able to find a "little extra"? Well, I had one of those rides this morning. Nothing extra spectacular, but some good "hellos" and "have a good ride's" that simply made me feel more comfortable or relaxed or empowered by a sport that I love. I have never quite been able to put my finger on why this transfer of energy has a powerful effect and why it is uplifting.

I am fascinated by the transfer of energy through smiles, hellos, and kind words. After spending time thinking about this phenomena, my brain usually gets curious on the why some cyclists choose not to participate in this transfer of energy. Why they are so absorbed in their ride or workout they choose not to transfer positive energy through interaction. To be honest, I know it is those people who stomp my ass in a race. That is OK. But it is the people that can offer positive trail energy and still kick my ass that I truly admire in our sport.

Keep it Simple,

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Something to get excited about

In my constant search for cycling related items that contribute to my enthusiasm for the sport, I believe that a new jewel is now available. It is called Mountain Flyer Magazine. They can be found at http://mountainflyer.com I love to read a good bike magazine. This strong publication has had an immediate impact on my cycling. I measure the quality of a publication with one simple litmus question, does the magazine provide new and creative insight into the sport that I love so much. To me, that is what the major publications lack, a little soul for the sport. Sure they can put together publication that offers eye candy but in the name of sales, marketing, and advertising they opted to keep articles to a certain word count and edit the content as not offend and potential advertising contributors. Their choice, I simply do not care and do not spend my money on those pubs.

Sorry for the digression, back to Mountain Flyer. SAHD first brought this magazine to my attention. I think it is worth your while to check it out. A couple of favorite articles from this issue include " Training with a Circus" for those who juggling work and families. Probably my favorite artice is "What if Budda Raced a Bike?". Sure it is a little deep, but that is what I like and speaks about finding your place within a racing atmosphere.

Keep it simple.

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Delay

There has been quite a long delay in posts. A comforting thought is that no one really follows this website. However, I find it theraputic and will work to make consistant efforts towards this blog.

One of my highlighted cycling events has come and gone. The Breckenridge Firecracker 50 mile mountain bike race. For me this was a true challenge to finish and I did. I certainly did not break any records, but I got it knocked out and that felt good. For a long time now, I have wanted to really work at becoming long distance racer/participant. The 50-100 mile plus stuff. This is a real challenge especially with a family and two great children, plus working full-time. This 50 miler was my first real step in continuing to move in that direction. I have the bug and want to continue to feed it with another distance event.

Earlier I commented on my intent to finish. Right now that is where it starts and stops with me. Taking some pride in the accomplishment. Maybe someday it will be race for me, but for now finishing is the task at hand.

While preparing for the Firecracker SAHD and myself often road together bantering support back and forth. This one stuck for me.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

Good Day,

Simple-Cyclist

Changing gears

A midseason adjustment in priorities as I take some time off the bike to prepare for an epic adventure - running. It is not that I don't run on a regular basis, but that I will actually focus on running for the next two weeks. That should be enough time to prepare for the grand adventure of running 38 miles through the night. Phil and Paul say that your body changes after you compete in a grand tour and I would say the same is true when you push your body beyond its capabilities. I have had many drunken discussions with ultra runners and bikers who would concur. I liken it to the concept of a derailleur - if you can gear down to climb the hill and take the easy way out or you can push your body to conquer the hill.

"I'm not really fast, but I go for a long time" - Dean Karnazes

Another great morning commute...

A morning ride to work in the Front Range from Golden into the heart Lakewood is a very nice ride. I was able to shave off 8 minutes of time from the Monday commute. I must admit, I was a bit of a sugar tit on Monday. I will attribute most that to the "Monday" but also a rather large messenger bag that was filled to the brim. A copule of things occured to me on the ride in:

1. Messenger bags, I love them and they are totally useful, but also serve as status symbol when riding. When riding with your messenger bag, I believe, the message is being sent, I have something to transport that requires this and I am choosing to use my bicycle to do it.

2. This morning I was curious on why I referred to my bike as being female in gender? This is what I came up with. It has to be female, she continues to foregive me being over-weight, out of shape, not particularly graceful, and generally a lack-luster cyclist. She never whines or complains and always lifts my spirits after a long ride. For the above stated reasons, it is only logical that my bicycles are of the female gender. I think that maybe aluminum bikes are male, but I do not know, I do not own one.

Quote for the day... coming from the Colorado Outward Bound School book-

A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
by William Shedd

My twist-
A bicycle in a garage is safe, but that is not what bicycles is built for.

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Sure...a little retro grouch. But she has so much love to give. 

Damn, Sacha does fine work! He was a pleasure to work with. Thanks Sacha. 

Lugged steel never felt so good. Pictured here in its single speed dress. 

Please meet one of my best friends.

Ass-whoopin's and lollipops...

What a long strange trip it was.....

Took a slight detour in my life to go and visit the mother land, the Republic of Texas. Actually needed to deliver a vehicle back to rust the rest of its life back home. Left out of my mountain encampment on Thursday last and headed south through the hail and rain. My only companion was my trusty am/fm radio, listening to bad radio for 16.5 hours was bearable as the destination was the live music capital of the world. Arrived in Austin at some good friends house just in time for many beers and the always refreshing mexican martini.

After many hours sleeping off my beer induce coma plus the mind dumbing drive through central Texas, it was off for a quick run around Town Lake. A stop at the Bakery for coffee and sugar the day was only beginning. Did the tour of groceries - the new corporate Whole Foods and the remodel Central Market. Drank more beer and was talked out of more mexican martinis by a Sense of Reason.

Met the old crew for the ever present ride from shop. Only 45 miles of riding to towns that I have been to many times before. Riding a tandem is much like riding my singlespeed in the fact that you need to keep momentum up the hills. Well, we got barked at often for pushing the pace and causing those not able to keep up dangling back in no mans land. We missed both town sign sprints but did manage to get third on the second one as we lead the pack out and faded 15 meters from the sign (Elroy for those in the know). Made it back to town for beer and pizza at the pool and then off to the airport for a quick flight back to the family.

For those keeping track, the Pink Surly 1x1 is NOT available.

Simon, my partner in crime for "The Summer of George".

Thank you sir, may I have another...

I was able to get out last night (Wednesday) for another strong ride. A great single speed ride around Green Mountain took the last available "juice" from my legs. I do need to gear down, pushing 54 inces is a bit much. I should move closer to 49 inches. I have known this for some time now, but continue to drag my feet on making this adjustment. Is it because I really do like to suffer? Am hoping to cause some permanent knee damage? No, I suspect, that in my small devious mind, I am hoping to work a little harder and get a little stronger. Coming from an "old school athletic mentality" more sufferring equals better results. I know this to some degree is faulty logic. However, it is an interesting case study: Why is it so dificult to shed life patterns that are not in the best interest of meeting a particular goal?

A quote from the book The Quotable Cyclist by Bill Strickland

"I began to feel that myself plus the bicycle equaled myself plus the world, upon whose spinning wheel we must all learn to ride, or fall into the sluiceways of oblivion and despair"
Frances Willard, How I learned to Ride the Bicycle

This photo was taken last year at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. This is my first attempt at posting a picture.

The Summer of George...

Well not really, but I have had a whole week to myself as my wife and two kids have gone back to Minnesota to visit family and friends over the Memorial Day weekend. I have found a lot of humor in the Seinfeld show and this week reminded me of George’s declaration, after being fired, that this “was going to be the summer of George”. Although I have not spent my time on the couch “eating blocks of cheese”, I have spent time logging hours on my bike. I do sincerely miss my kids and wife, but there are very few times that I have been to get out and ride when I want, where I want, and for as long as I want. Family simply does not allow for this, family is awesome but is always a compromise to my selfish self. As I reflect on my riding experiences this last weekend, I was able to accomplish several small milestones, and I feel great about it.

It started out with a commitment to a Critical Mass ride on Friday night. However, I did not get the memo and my buddy and I were the only two cyclists circling the Denver Metro area. No worries, a couple of beers and some great pizza allowed for some serious brainstorming about bikes, beer and punk rock.

Saturday continued the adventure into the cycling off-road world. I have lived in Golden, CO for a year now, but this was my first ride at White Ranch. I really enjoyed it, especially as a Front Range ride. I like to get in a great climb, but also really enjoy “stretching out the legs” on some good rolling trails. Once up top, White Ranch allowed for this type of riding. On the way down, I found some technical areas and a couple of hike a bike sections. All in all, an epic solo ride, and a good effort.

Sunday turned out to be about perfect. Slightly overcast and cool, a century was planned. No real expectations and no time limits permitted a solid effort in and along the greenbelt trail systems surrounding the Denver metro area. A decent pace, a good lunch with coffee, and a great riding partner made for a spectacular day. The century felt great, and completed my “base miles” for some future epic mountain bike efforts.

Monday polished off the holiday weekend. A day off the bike, but did an hour’s worth of yoga. Went to downtown Golden to watch the Criterium races and hang out with some friends. The races kept my motivation alive after a great cycling weekend.

Thanks for stopping by,
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